A youth team representing Cypress Lanes in Lehighton has taken a first place award in the Handicap Division at the Pennsylvania Junior Bowling Tournament First Annual Bowling Center Championship held March 24, 2013, at AMF Parkway Lanes, Allentown.

The team bowled against 16 other teams across the state to compete for one of the six slots in the tournament.

The five youth bowlers all bowl in a league at Cypress Lanes. Each did extremely well supporting their team. In the tournament, each bowler had a personal best game. Carpenter bowled a 220; Gilbert, 202; Everett, 228; Knappenberger, 206; and Schneider, 289. To compete, each team bowled six games.

"I was so proud of them," said Donna Steigerwalt, who co-owns Cypress Lanes, with her husband, Brian.

Steigerwalt noted that each team member also received $200 in scholarship funds they can access for college or other higher education and that Cypress Lanes was also awarded $500 that is to be used toward the Cypress Lanes Junior Bowling Program.

"Many people may not realize that our junior bowlers are earning funds toward their college education," said Steigerwalt. "Some of our bowlers have $4,000 in scholarships and more toward college because of participating in bowling."